MHS STUDENT & FAMILY NEWSLETTER

RSU 57 & Massabesic High School

"Preparing students for success in an ever-changing world."

Hello Mustang Nation,

I daresay we may have turned a corner with the weather this weekend and the temperatures this week look fantastic! We do have a shortened week ahead - first with an Early Release Day on Wednesday, and no school for students on Friday.

Our Course Selection process continues (see links below) as we start to look toward the 2026-2027 school year. If you have any questions please connect with your School Counselor in the Guidance Department.

A Quick Reminder: Food & Trash Protocols

We need your help! To keep MHS looking its best and to ensure we can continue allowing food throughout the building, please remember:

1. Use the Bins: Trash cans are located in the cafeteria and all over the school—please use them!

2. Respect the Space: If you eat on the go, ensure no crumbs or wrappers are left behind.

3. Keep the Privilege: Food outside the cafeteria is a convenience we want to keep, but it requires 100% student cooperation.

Let's keep MHS clean! Immediate improvement is needed to avoid new restrictions on where food can be taken and/or consumed.

Morning Meetings this Week:

Tuesday, 03.10.26

The Resiliency Project (Mrs. Desjardins, Room 43)

Student Council (Mr. Nadeau) - NHS attendance priority

Future Farmer's of America (Mr. Nduaguibe)

Zero Waste Club (Mr. Nduaguibe)

Thursday, 03.12.26

National Honor Society (Mrs. Stephenson)

Climate & Culture Cohort (Mr. Labbe)

NJROTC (Captain Howell & Chief Lipp)

Class of 2028 Meeting - Auditoirum

Math Team (Mrs. Blair, Room 18)

Zero Waste Club (Mr. Nduaguibe)

As a reminder, our Green/White day rotation for this week is below:

Monday, 03.09.26 - GREEN

Tuesday, 03.10.26 - WHITE

Wednesday, 03.11.26 - GREEN (Early Release Day)

Thursday, 03.12.26 - WHITE

Friday, 03.13.26 - No School for Students (Staff Professional Development Day)

Take care,

-Mr. Thurlow

Members of the Massabesic High School Science Club competed in the virtual Science Bowl on February 28th. Competing against 10 teams the group of 4 students moved on to the quarterfinals where they tied for 5th place overall. It was a great day in which they won matches against teams from all over Maine and they were even winning at the half-way point of the quarter finals. Congratulations to all participants - Brielle Densmore, Chase Morin, Caeleigh Moulton, & Jack Lessard.

(Review provided by Director Cat Leavitt)

Mustang Theatre recently participated in the Regional One-Act Festival at Noble High School with their production of Murder Box by Reid Conrad. Throughout the season, the cast and crew worked to strengthen their collaboration, build trust, and grow together as a theatre community. Their dedication and teamwork were evident both onstage and behind the scenes, reflecting the strong sense of connection and support that has developed within the troupe this year.

The experience at the festival highlighted more than just performance—it demonstrated the power of collaboration, creativity, and mutual respect. Students supported one another throughout the process and shared a collective vision for the production, creating an environment where every member of the company played an important role in bringing the show to life.

Special congratulations go to Lydia DalPra, Ben Stevens, and Noah Paige, who each received Festival All-Cast Awards in recognition of their outstanding performances.

The troupe is also grateful for the support of chaperone Kristen DalPra, whose encouragement and assistance helped make the festival experience a success. Mustang Theatre also extends sincere thanks to the many parents, family members, and friends who traveled to Noble High School to show their support, as well as to Principal Thurlow for attending and cheering on the group.

While awards are always exciting, the most meaningful outcome of the festival was the continued growth of a supportive and passionate theatre family. Mustang Theatre looks forward to building on this experience as the program continues to grow and create meaningful work together.

This month, the Resiliency Project is raising awareness about disabilities. The group is focusing on four types of disabilities: Physical, Neurodivergent, Developmental, and Chronic Health. **Physical Disability** refers to a long-term or temporary condition that limits a person's mobility, stamina, dexterity, or physical capacity to perform daily activities. An example of this would be spina bifida. **Neurodivergent** describes variations in brain functioning that affect how individuals think, learn, process information, and behave. Conditions such as autism fall under this category. **Developmental Disability** includes a diverse group of conditions that can impact physical abilities, learning, language, or behavioral skills, including disorders such as developmental disabilities and epilepsy. **Chronic Health Disability** involves long-lasting conditions—persisting for one year or more—that require ongoing medical attention and can limit daily activities. Common causes include arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. The group aims to raise awareness about these disabilities and their impacts, including effects on mental health. They will also share stories of well-known individuals and celebrities who have these disabilities and how they have overcome their challenges. We meet on Tuesday mornings in room 43, and new members are always welcome.

About Course Selection: This week, school counselors presented to English classes to start the course selection process. During course selection, students can request courses for the next school year. Please note that these are requests; students are not guaranteed to be scheduled for all the classes that they select. MHS tries to accommodate all requests during this process, but this is not always possible.

Course selections are being completed through Google Forms. Students will receive the link to the Google Form on the day of their English class presentation. On Friday Feburary 27th, their School Counselor will send a second email with the link. Students must submit their course selections through Google Forms by March 6th.

It is recommended that students discuss their course selections and recommendations with their teachers. Parents/Guardians are highly encouraged to discuss course selections with their students. Below are some references to use as a guide. Each subject area presentation was developed by the individual departments.

Resource Links

The New England High School Journalism Collaborative partners include Simmons University, The Boston Globe, Regis College, and the New England Newspaper and Press Association. FMI: https://nehsjc.org/summer-workshop/

Deputy Cummer would like to announce that next week's (03/09) Law Enforcement Club has been postponed to 03/16.

The tradition returns! This year’s annual MHS March Madness Dodgeball Tournament officially kicks off on Monday, March 30, and runs through Friday, April 3.

• Form Your Squad: Team registration opens in the coming weeks. Start recruiting your teammates now!

• The Bracket: We’ll be building the official competition brackets soon—who will take the top seed?

• Schedule Shift: Note that our bell schedule will be adjusted during tournament week to make room for the action.

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Does your team have what it takes to dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge? Stay tuned for sign-up details!

A reminder to students and families regarding cell phones and personal electronic devices - district policy prohibits the use of these devices during the school day, therefore school rules dictate that these devices are not to be found in a student's possession. School sanctioned options for storage as listed below - any deviation from those options will result in immediate and progressive consequences. (Of course, we want to avoid consequences if possible)

1. Leave the cell phone/personal electronic device at home.

2. Leave the cell phone/personal electronic devices in your vehicle or the vehicle of a friend/classmate.

3. Leave the cell phone/personal electronic device in your homeroom.

MHS is proud to expand our partnership with Josten's (think letterman jackets, graduation gear, etc.) to offer an MHS Mascot Shop for lots of great MHS Gear. Please check out the shop using the link below. This site will be available all year long.

Wednesday, March 11 - Early Release Day

Friday, March 13 - In-Service Day of Wellness (no students)

Wednesday, March 18 - MHS Blood Drive

Wednesday, March 25 - ERD, Annual Academic Showcase, & 8th Grade Step-Up Night

Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3: March Madness Dodgeball Tournament

Monday, April 13 - Thursday, April 16: Spirit Week (sponsored by Student Council)

Friday, April 17 - No School

Monday, April 20 - Friday, April 24: Spring Vacation (school closed)

You are always welcome to call our Main Office at (207) 247-3141, schedule a meeting, or email members of our administrative team members directly (emails listed below):